metamorphic

Quartzite

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7; Color: typically white to grey, but often colored by impurities (red/orange from iron oxide in this case); Luster: vitreous; Crystal structure: massive granular; Cleavage: none; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7
Luster: vitreous

Identified September 1, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under heat and pressure. Can be found worldwide in metamorphic terranes.

Uses & applications

Used as a decorative stone, in construction as crushed stone or dimension stone, and occasionally in jewelry as tumbled stones.

Geological facts

Quartzite is very hard and resistant to chemical weathering, often forming ridges and hilltops in landscapes.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass) and granular texture where the grains interlock. Often found in riverbeds as rounded cobbles like the one pictured.